Zhu Yunying didn't need to concern himself too much with the affairs of his younger brothers, because they were all trivial matters. Ultimately, they had little impact on the court or the fate of the dynasty.
For Zhu Yunying, what he was more concerned about now was the impending war that could break out at any moment; that was the key.
The military strength of the Ming Dynasty has now reached its peak. Thirty years since its founding is not a short time, although many of the older generation of soldiers are no longer able to go to the battlefield. However, since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, wars large and small have never ceased. The Ming Dynasty has not yet put away its weapons and let its horses graze freely; it is always ready for battle.
Furthermore, the Ming Dynasty's current enemy is not the Mongol cavalry that once dominated the world. The descendants of Genghis Khan are constantly fighting among themselves, and now they are not only lacking in military supplies, but also in daily necessities, making them very weak.
To say it was a complete sweep is a bit of an exaggeration, but it's certain that the Ming Dynasty held an absolute advantage in every aspect.
Even with its advantages, the Ming Dynasty cannot afford to be complacent. Warfare is inherently unpredictable; even with overwhelming superiority, unexpected events can cause a reversal of fortune. The Ming Dynasty cannot afford to squander its absolute dominance over its neighboring countries at this crucial moment.
Fu Rang was dressed in full armor. He was Fu Youde's lieutenant, just one of the 'nobody soldiers'.
Fu Youde, with a serious expression, sat in the central command tent and issued orders, "Qiu Fu, I will give you a thousand cavalrymen to be the vanguard of my army!"
Qiu Fu was incredibly excited. He was merely a commander of a thousand guards in the Yanshan Mountains. Even a commander of a thousand was a high-ranking official, a fifth-rank officer commanding 1120 soldiers. Such a position represented the backbone of the Ming Dynasty's military.
After Qiu Fu received the military order, Fu Youde continued to issue commands, "Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng, you two will each lead your respective commanders to support the vanguard!"
Gradually, some people seemed to sense that something was amiss. Of the three armies, Fu Youde's force was considered by many to be the absolute main force. It consisted almost entirely of elite border troops and the Three Guards of the Princes, drawn from various vassal states. These troops had previously been responsible for protecting Beiping, but why did it seem like they weren't heading straight for the enemy's capital?
At the same time, Lan Yu's expression was extremely serious. "In this battle, we are advancing deep into enemy territory alone. Our cavalry will go first and strike directly at the Tatar royal court! We don't need to engage in close combat with those barbarians; we just need to kill and wound the tribes and tie down their forces!"
Some of the deployments that followed Lan Yu in his campaigns were also somewhat strange. Lan Yu's military style was rather aggressive and violent, as evidenced by his most glorious victory at Buyur Lake. This time, however, although Lan Yu seemed to be planning another surprise attack, everyone felt that this army was becoming a detached force.
The task of engaging a significant number of Tatar troops and crippling their war potential on the grasslands is not something Duke Lan Yu of Liang should be entrusted with. Lan Yu is a sharpest blade; he should be the one to strike the Tatars down in terror!
Lan Yu certainly wanted to kill to his heart's content, but he had also received some imperial decrees.
His Majesty the Emperor's intention is that, if possible, he hopes Xu Huizu and others can achieve meritorious service and gain more experience. Of course, if Lan Yu feels that this is not feasible, there is no question of disobeying the imperial decree; as long as they can win battles, that is all that matters.
This wasn't a problem for Lan Yu. Although he felt a little frustrated, he figured it didn't matter that it was just a detachment. He already had military achievements, so it wasn't a bad thing for a young man like Xu Huizu to earn some credit.
Your Majesty will need younger commanders in the future, and Xu Huizu's military achievements further solidify the Crown Prince's position. The position of the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne, in the Ming Dynasty is so stable and unchallenged. Everyone knows that the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty doesn't need to think too much; he just needs to grow up peacefully to sit on the dragon throne.
Lan Yu and Fu Youde, the two most capable military commanders of the Ming Dynasty, have become supporting characters in this war. The Ming Dynasty is indeed extravagant; even with a strong and well-equipped army, it has already begun to consider cultivating a new generation of military leaders.
Fu Youde and Lan Yu had no doubt about Xu Huizu's abilities; they knew he possessed some of the charisma of Xu Da, the Prince of Zhongshan. Furthermore, Xu Huizu had a large number of subordinates, all elite soldiers. Moreover, this battle had been planned for a long time, personally orchestrated by the Emperor Emeritus, and the commanders of the three armies communicated effectively.
Given this, they naturally had more confidence, as they were well aware of the course of the battle. Moreover, seasoned generals like Lan Yu and Fu Youde possessed exceptional adaptability. If any unexpected events occurred, they could readily provide backup and steer the battle back to its original expected course.
There was pressure, but thinking of his father's prestige, his sister's status, and his nephew, the Crown Prince, Xu Huizu felt that he should make contributions in this great battle.
Loyalty to the emperor and service to the country—this was the responsibility his father entrusted to him, and it was also what Xu Huizu hoped he could achieve.
"Brother, let us lead the vanguard!" Xu Yingxu excitedly volunteered, his voice filled with fervor. "If we are the vanguard, we will surely lure those Tartar troops into an ambush!"
Xu Huizu looked at his second brother and asked seriously, "Second brother, you should also understand how much risk there is in being a vanguard!"
"At worst, we'll die on the battlefield, we have nothing to fear!" Xu Yingxu said boldly. "My father was the Prince of Zhongshan, the first meritorious official of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and the head of the six princes. My sister is the Empress, and my nephew is the Crown Prince! We also have offspring now. Even if we die as kings, we will still be glorious!"
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